Cancer treatment, food handling and infections

Cancer and cancer treatments weaken the body’s immune system by affecting white blood cells that protect against disease. As a result, your body cannot fight infection as well as a healthy person’s body can.

Good food hygiene, such as the basic guidelines below, is important for everybody. However, if you have had a bone marrow transplant or your white cell count is low, particularly during chemotherapy, extra care needs to be taken with food preparation as you will be more susceptible to food-borne illness. Most food poisoning results from improper handling and improper storage of food. Speak to your doctor or dietitian regarding any special food handling conditions which may apply to your stage of treatment.

Basic food safety guidelines

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before you prepare or eat food.

Choose freshly cooked and freshly prepared foods. Take care when eating out, as it can be difficult to know whether food safety guidelines are being followed. When possible ask for meals to be made fresh and avoid foods that have been sitting for unknown periods of time.

Always thaw frozen food in the fridge or defrost in the microwave, rather than on the bench and do not re–freeze thawed food.

Keep raw meat covered, and keep it separate from cooked food or ready–to–eat food. Use separate utensils and chopping boards for raw meat and vegetables.

The cancer information on this website is based on the Understanding Cancer series booklets published by Cancer Council. This information is reviewed and updated every two years or as new information comes to hand. Cancer Council works with cancer doctors, specialist nurses or other relevant health professionals to ensure the medical information is reliable and up to date. Consumers also check the booklets to ensure they meet the needs of people with cancer. Before commencing any health treatment, always consult your doctor. This information is intended as a general introduction and should not be seen as a substitute for your own doctor's or health professional's advice. All care is taken to ensure that the information contained is accurate at the time of publication.

Cancer Council NSW would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we live and work.We would also like to pay respect to the elders past and present and extend that respect to all other Aboriginal people.